When I was younger, the attic was reserved for storing Christmas presents, Halloween costumes and pink fiberglass. But these days attic apartments seem like the coolest thing on the block. Small, cozy and manageable, it’s the poor man’s penthouse.
Some homes covert their attics into the perfect guest bedroom getaway. Others save the space for the master suite. Basement rec rooms are being replaced by the upstairs crash pad. And why not a home office in the treetops?
Here’s an inspiration board of people who have made great use of the top floor.
Top row, left to right:
1 Arno's 2008 Color Contest Entry
2 Sarah 's House Tour
3 Everyeskimo's 2009 Small Cool Entry
4 Up in the Air: An Attic Bath Addition
5 Veronika & Sebastian's House Tour
Bottom row, left to right:
6 2C Design Studio
7 Country Living
8 The Lloyd Hotel
100 DIY Ideas for the 3-Day Weekend
Danielle's Charming, Classic Walk-Up
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
White Enamel Flatwa...
How To Cook Fluffy, Tasty Quinoa
Perfect Summer Cocktail Recipe: Honey Bourbon Lemonade
When I was a kid the unfinished attic was reserved for both storage, and my clubhouse... modestly named The Awesome Club. Attics are great! Love the bathroom in the 4th pic.
I adore the retro glass counter, the buddha heads, and the Federal style dome mirror in the 1st pic. Awesome combo.
This post brings to mind an old episode of the Brit-com "Keeping Up Appearances" I just saw. Mrs. Bucket (that's Booo-quaaay!) and her beleaguered husband move into an apartment in a mansion in the posh English countryside. She makes a big to-do about how illustrious their new address is, as they climb and climb and climb the increasingly small and steep stairs. Their apartment is RIDICULOUSLY cramped, but oh such a fancy locale!
These apartments are way the heck better, I must say :)
yes, attic aparments can be super cute. i used to live in one. however, unless they have ample (opperable) skylights or other ventilation options - be very careful. if you're at all prone to being "hot-blooded" you will die of heat in the summer and likely in the winter too (cause it's cold so you turn the heat on, and the after 5 mins you're sweating...). and forget about having pets. they can't escape outside when necessary.
but yeah, cute.
The most favourite apartment I had in university was the attic of a huge 100-year-old house. There was no doorbell at the entrance, so my visitors had to climb all the way up the fire escape and tap on my kitchen window to visit. We used to hang out on the roof drinking beer and people-watching through the treetops. It was awesome.
But oh my god, molly is right about the heat factor. I went to school in southern Ontario, where not only was it routinely above 100 degrees every day during the summer, but it also hit 100% humidity. The heat would wake me up every day at 6 am. If I took a shower, I had to leave my apartment so that my hair would dry.
I looooovvvve the "attic garret" thing. I've always dreamed of having a place with sloping ceilings. But I'm short, which probably factors into it. If I was six feet tall, I'd probably say "no thanks."
AnnieStuart- i remember that episode!! it was hilarious!
I love how each room is different with its own personality. Nice!